TheEnglishMajor

Account Executive

What's the professional way of saying "I was interviewing with you in case I had to, but now I don't, so I want to pause for now."

I'm thinking, "Happy New Year! While I've been looking forward to my conversation with (hiring manager) on this position, I've had a lot of recent changes in my personal life that have be believing that a career move would not be the best choice at this moment. I would love to stay in touch and explore future areas of opportunity, please keep me in mind"

The truth is I was on a PIP and started looking.. this new role would be a step down in position, pay, etc... also not an amazing territory. I ended up beating my pip which has me safe for now at a company I really do want to stay with, but I also realize that I could get in hot water again. I want to keep my future options open

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

😋 Job Searching

19 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I wouldn’t say anything unless asked. I wouldn’t be proactive at all about it. I would only respond if they reach out and in that case I would only try to get a better offer out of them.

You just got off PIP. That means you are still on a bubble and could be let go at any time. A PIP is just a formality some companies employ in the process of letting you go. It also means you have no friends at your current gig.

So while you’re in your current role, I’d leverage it to get the best possible offer from a prospective new employer.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

Hard agree here. Zero need to pre-empt anything as your current situation is far from a guarantee.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Me too.

Current situation is precarious at best. Can't hurt to follow through with the interview. It's good practice either way.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

I’m on this bandwagon. You don’t know who is in the conference saying, “He really fucking made it? How are we going to get rid of him now?”

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

☝🏻

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

Account Executive

Well we have another interview scheduled is the thing

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

When is the interview?

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Then you are negotiating from a position of power rather than from one of need and desperation.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Do the interview. Nothing bad can possibly come from it.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Agreed - if only for the experience.

medhardwaredr

Politicker

Director of Sales NA

Can’t help anymore than this. Listen to @Pachacuti

MRK47

Tycoon

Head of Growth

Given the fragility of your current position, I would continue through the interview process for both the experience of it as well as the potential it might open up a diff door (now or in the future) that might be more appealing.

You are under no obligation to accept an offer if subsequently made after future rounds…..similarly a company is under no obligation to offer you a role after those rounds. Your only obligation is to act professionally…there is no upside for proactively (or preemptively) removing yourself until you need to.

If it came to an offer, you could professionally decline at that time for the reasons you state ('after significant reflection, the scope of the role is not sufficiently expansive to meet my professional growth aspirations and so I have to respectfully decline your offer. This is however, an extremely difficult decision because as I have navigated this process and expanded my knowledge of your business, the value offered and clear impact being made, is extremely exciting. I’d love the opportunity to contribute to your next phase of growth particularly in [insert desired role info]…..etc…basically keep the door open (but don’t cite personal reasons for declining now).

And on the topic of the PIP and that you mention you’re at a company you want to stay with……I would encourage some deep introspection…..PIPs happen for a reason…either you have been handicapped by the product / systems / culture of the business which has unfairly led to the PIP or there is something about the role / business that does not extract your true value / ability which has led to the PIP…..in both scenarios, is it really a long term ‘home’ for you?

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

This is a very thoughtful and well-reasoned approach, and great advice.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Do you have next steps with the company scheduled already or is it in limbo anyways?

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

Account Executive

Next steps scheduled!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

well then, get on the call with the hiring manager, explain your situation that for personal reasons you have to stay with the current org and it's nothing against their org.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

I would cancel and send thank you notes to them all about opportunity at your current company opened up

LeadMachine

Big Shot

Sr. BDR

Them putting you on a PIP, means they want you outta there, it's just a temporary stay of execution. Its like they made an attempt to oust you, it didn't work, they are sharpening their pencils now for the future no matter what you do there. Do what the demon in the Amityville Horror movie told the priest, "get out" (and while on your terms!)

AgustinusAdiST

Fire Starter

The RealMiner

Wow great. I love it